Investigator, Dealer Accounts: Reasoning, Math, Language, and Compiling

While on the road this weekend, I posted about the reasoning level 4 occupation of information clerk.  The other reasoning level 4 occupation that the DOT lists as having an unskilled Specific Vocational Preparation code is Investigator, Dealer Accounts. 

241.367-038 INVESTIGATOR, DEALER ACCOUNTS (financial) alternate titles: floor plan adjuster

    Visits dealers to verify purchases financed by bank against physical inventory of merchandise: Reviews computer printouts listing customer names, addresses, and descriptions of merchandise financed through bank credit and chattel mortgage accounts to plan itinerary of unannounced visits to dealer premises. Explains purpose of visit and locates merchandise in areas, such as showroom, storage room, or car lot. Observes features of merchandise, such as size, color, model, and serial number, to verify item against computer printout. Examines records and questions dealer to determine disposition of items missing from inventory and to elicit information on dealer arrangement for payment to bank for merchandise sold. Records findings on printout and notifies supervisor of unusual findings. 
GOE: 07.05.02 STRENGTH: L GED: R4 M3 L4 SVP: 2 DLU: 89

Nestled in the trailer is that reasoning level 4 code.  For the sake of completeness, the DOT defines reasoning level 4:

04 LEVEL REASONING DEVELOPMENT
Apply principles of rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form. (Examples of rational systems include: bookkeeping, internal combustion engines, electric wiring systems, house building, farm management, and navigation.)

This occupation has that same first digit of 3 in the middle group -- it requires compiling.  Appendix B of the DOT defines compiling as:

Gathering, collating, or classifying information about data, people, or things. Reporting and/or carrying out a prescribed action in relation to the information is frequently involved.

That definition of compiling drags the occupation outside of a classification of work requiring "little or no judgment to do simple duties."  The occupation isn't simple and requires the exercise of judgment.  The Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs provides an example of compiling that fits this occupation to a "t."

3 Compiling: Gathering, collating, or classifying information about data, people, or things. Reporting or carrying out a prescribed action in relation to the information is frequently involved.

3:4 Summarizes details of transactions in separate ledgers and transfers data to general ledger to maintain records of financial transactions of an establishment.

This example fits the narrative job description contained in the DOT.  The investigator shows up to verify the existence of property on the lot, compares the property to lists, and makes reports.  Not a simple occupation. 

Investigator, dealer accounts also requires math and language skills that might be in the wheel house of a high school graduate (but probably not) and clearly beyond the scope of a claimant with a limited education.  Investigators need math level 3 and language level 4.  Appendix C defines these two GED components:

03 MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT 

Compute discount, interest, profit and loss; commission, markup, and selling price; ratio and proportion; and percentage. Calculate surfaces, volumes, weights, and measures.

Algebra:
Calculate variables and formulas; monomials and polynomials; ratio and proportion variables; and square roots and radicals.

Geometry:
Calculate plane and solid figures; circumference, area, and volume. Understand kinds of angles and properties of pairs of angles.

04 LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

Reading:
Read novels, poems, newspapers, periodicals, journals, manuals, dictionaries, thesauruses, and encyclopedias.

Writing:
Prepare business letters, expositions, summaries, and reports, using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.

Speaking:
Participate in panel discussions, dramatizations, and debates. Speak extemporaneously on a variety of subjects.

A claimant that did not take geometry or and upper level language class may not meet the educational requirements not only of reasoning level 4 but also math level 3 and language level 4.  The representative must ask the vocational expert to explain the part of the hypothetical question that permitted the inference that the claimant has those educational achievements and retains those capacities years or decades later.  This job is not simple despite the ease of learning the occupation on the base of a high school graduate that took algebra, geometry, and honors English.